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Potentiometer application and working principle

Author： Date：2011-12-30 12:06:20

Potentiometer (also known as the linear position sensors, resistors ruler), suitable for injection molding machines, woodworking machinery, printing, spraying, machine tools, robotics, engineering, computer-controlled monitoring of sports equipment and other applications requiring precise measurement of displacement.
Conductive plastic potentiometer (voltage divider, resistors ruler) was applied in the late fifties, and is widely used in automotive, injection molding machines, wood processing machines and modern different industries. This kind of sensor is cheap, low-temperature, high-speed low-torque operation and application of the unique characteristics of conductive plastic technology. Sensor consists of the following major components:
1, resistance rack
2, electronic brush
3 incentive unit
4,positioning bearing
5, shell Functions and principles:
Motion sensor function is to convert mechanical displacement into electrical signal, the signal is proportional to mechanical motion. Electronic brush assembly connected to the mechanical actuator, then the plastic resistance tracks generates a voltage divider. Potentiometer resistance track to stabilize the input DC voltage (allowing a small current). When measuring the brush and the correct resistance, the signal voltage is a major part of the voltage divider, and is proportional to the brush on the position of resistance track. Potentiometer as a voltage divider, you can not focus on accuracy of the total resistance on the resistive track, because the temperature fluctuations only have effect on the resistance but not affect the measurement results.
The application of potentiometer:
Potentiometer is widely used in various fields: automotive, medical equipment, robotics, wood processing machines, molding machines, injection mold machines.
How to choose an electronic ruler/potentiometer? Important parameters include: 1, the required accuracy, linearity 2, the expected range 3, repeatability / resolution 4, required torque (low) 5, the environment, vibration, dust, temperature, humidity, 6, 7 electrical stroke, requiring speed and price expectations and life.